AFC Challenge League
Goals from Rustam Soirov and substitute Alisher Shukurov primed the Tajikistan outfit for their final match against Homs Al Fidaa SC of Syria on Friday while Al Arabi will look for their first point against Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC.
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Both sides made tentative attempts from the start, including a powerful free-kick by Istiklol’s Ehsoni Panshanbe 15 minutes in that saw keeper Ahmad Al Khaledi standing his ground to punch the ball away despite being crowded in by a sea of bodies.
The home side tried their luck again in the 27th minute but Vahdat Hanonov’s stab at goal from the right of the six-yard box was cut short by a well-timed tackle by Anayo Iwuala.
The home side tried their luck again in the 27th minute but Vahdat Hanonov’s stab at goal from the right of the six-yard box was cut short by a well-timed tackle by Anayo Iwuala.
Istiklol’s Denis Kavlinov came off his line in the 34th minute to parry an inswinging effort by Abdul Wahab Al Awadhi from the left while the subsequent counter saw Shervoni Mabatshoev’s close-range header landing on the roof of the net.
The Tajikistan side finally made their breakthrough in the 38th minute through Rustam Soirov, who, after an exchange with Panshanbe, burst through the defence and slammed the ball past a rooted Al Khaledi from the left of the six-yard box.
The Tajikistan side finally made their breakthrough in the 38th minute through Rustam Soirov, who, after an exchange with Panshanbe, burst through the defence and slammed the ball past a rooted Al Khaledi from the left of the six-yard box.
Group B: FC Istiklol (TJK) v Al Arabi SC (KUW)
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The Al Arabi keeper denied Panshanbe’s curling effort in the 55th minute and then watched as Hanonov’s shot from distance went off-target to the left as Istiklol looked to double their lead.
With the match constantly delayed by stoppages, the closest Istiklol came to a second was in the 74th minute, when Al Khaledi went down low to save from Panshanbe’s drive.
With the match constantly delayed by stoppages, the closest Istiklol came to a second was in the 74th minute, when Al Khaledi went down low to save from Panshanbe’s drive.
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At the other end, Kavlinov fumbled a stinging shot from Zeid Qunbar in the 75th minute with Istiklol then finding their decisive goal five minutes before regulation time.
Having come on just three minutes earlier, an unmarked Shukurov picked up a pin-point pass from Mabatshoev, controlled the ball and coolly sent a dipping shot from the edge of the area past a lunging Al Khaledi and into the top right.
Having come on just three minutes earlier, an unmarked Shukurov picked up a pin-point pass from Mabatshoev, controlled the ball and coolly sent a dipping shot from the edge of the area past a lunging Al Khaledi and into the top right.
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